Arabs & Arabian Records Aggregator. Chronicler. Milestones of the 25 Countries of the Arabic Speaking World (official / co-official). AGCC. MENA. Global. Ist's to Top 10's. Records. Read & Enjoy./ www.arabianrecords.org
Egypt-based Tunisian filmmaker and actor Dhafer L’Abidine has won the Best Director Award at the Manchester Film Festival (19 to 29 March), for his latest feature Sophia.
Set between Europe and North Africa, Sophia follows Emily, a woman who travels from London to Tunisia against her father’s wishes in an attempt to reconnect her daughter, Sophia, with her estranged husband.
The situation quickly spirals into crisis when the young girl disappears, plunging the fractured family into a web of secrets and deception. As tensions mount, Emily races against time to uncover the truth and find her daughter.
The film features an international cast led by Jessica Brown Findlay (Downton Abbey, Brave New World), alongside Dhafer L’Abidine, Kais Setti (Dogs of Berlin, Blood Red Sky), and veteran actor Jonathan Hyde (Titanic, Anaconda).
Sophia, a family thriller, is a co-production between Double A Productions and New Sparta Productions, with cinematography by Willie Nel and editing by Hafedh Laaridhi. The film’s original score was composed by Selim Arjoun.
The film had its world premiere at the Marrakech International Film Festival, launching its global festival journey to critical attention.
Dhafer L’Abidine
L’Abidine, 53, a graduate of the Birmingham School of Speech and Drama, built his early career in British television, appearing in series such as Dream Team and Spooks. He later featured in international productions including Children of Men and Sex and the City 2, before becoming widely known in the Arab world through television dramas such as Maktoub, Halawat El Donia, and Arous Beirut.
Behind the camera, he made his directorial debut with Ghodwa, which won the FIPRESCI Prize at the Cairo International Film Festival and was shortlisted for the Golden Globe Awards.
His second feature, To My Son, earned Best Film at the Hollywood Arab Film Festival, further establishing him as a prominent Arab filmmaker working across international markets.
The event forms part of the Umrah and Ziyarah Forum from March 30 to April 1 at the King Salman International Convention Center in Madinah.
King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives, in cooperation with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the Pilgrim Experience Program, is organizing a forum on historical sites associated with the Prophet’s biography.
The event forms part of the Umrah and Ziyarah Forum from March 30 to April 1 at the King Salman International Convention Center in Madinah.
Several researchers and specialists in Prophetic biography and Islamic history will attend the three-day forum, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.
Organizing the forum is part of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to serve the Prophetic biography, aiming to enhance the scientific documentation of historical sites associated with it and highlight their intellectual and cultural value.
The forum will focus on several key pillars, notably documenting the landmarks of the Prophet’s life, linking its events to geographical locations, and supporting specialized scientific research.
It also includes scientific sessions discussing mechanisms for verifying historical narratives and distinguishing between authentic and unreliable accounts.
Additionally, the forum reviews the Kingdom’s efforts to revive historical sites related to the Prophetic biography and present them through modern technologies and innovative approaches that enrich the visitor experience.
The Government of the Sultanate of Oman announced the completion of its acquisition of SalamAir, affirming that both Oman Air and SalamAir will continue to operate as fully independent brands while preserving their operational identity, fleets and services.
Eng. Said bin Hamoud Al Maawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, said this approach aims to reduce overlap in destination networks between the two airlines, ensuring optimal utilisation of fleets and expanding air connectivity within the Sultanate and the wider region.
He added that this will enhance operational efficiency and provide travellers with broader options and greater diversity within the two economic categories served by the carriers.
He noted in a statement to Oman News Agency that this strategic transformation is expected to improve the financial position of both airlines, as well as companies associated with ground services, through the development of cost structures and enhancement of revenue quality.
Oman has achieved a global milestone with the Barmajan Digital Transformation Hackathon officially recognised by Guinness World Records as the largest multi-site hackathon in the world.
Organised by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, the record-breaking event was held simultaneously at National Museum and Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex Bausher, drawing more than 250 young participants from across the sultanate.
H E Sayyid Said bin Sultan al Busaidi, Undersecretary in Ministry for Culture, Sports and Youth, who attended the closing ceremony on Thursday, described the recognition as a proud moment for the sultanate.
“Oman’s entry into the Guinness records book is an achievement with many dimensions and objectives. When the hackathon was first launched, it was not intended to break a record, but the scale, interest and quality of the programme drew international attention,” H E Sayyid Said said.
He added, “We did not break a previous record but created a new benchmark, leaving space for others to build upon. We also hope this achievement will serve as a platform to promote Oman’s tourism and national identity.”
Sultan bin Mohsen al Subhi, Project Manager of the hackathon, said the recognition marks a milestone in Oman’s digital journey. “This global recognition will amplify Oman’s visibility and send a strong message about the importance of digital transformation in modern governance.”
Launched on July 21, Barmajan featured technical challenges, workshops and training sessions aimed at developing innovative solutions for government services. It brought together developers, programmers, UX designers and business analysts, highlighting the creativity and skills of Omani youth in shaping the future of digital governance.
Saudi Arabia has launched a new international rail logistics corridor linking its Eastern Province ports with the Al-Haditha border crossing in a move aimed at boosting trade flows and improving supply chain efficiency.
The route connects King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, Al-Jubail Commercial Port and King Fahd Industrial Port in Jubail to Jordan and neighboring northern countries, according to Saudi Arabia Railways, also known as SAR.
Spanning more than 1,700 km, the corridor can handle trains carrying over 400 containers each, expanding freight capacity and strengthening regional connectivity.
The development comes at a time of disruption to regional trade routes following the US-Israel conflict with Iran, which has pushed up energy prices and affected shipping flows across key Gulf corridors.
In a post on X, Transport Minister Saleh Al-Jasser said the launch of the new logistics corridor via freight trains represents a “practical model for integrating modes of transportation.”
He added that SAR “supports the diversification of trade routes and boosting the flow of goods movement,” while limiting reliance on long-distance trucking, improving the efficiency of utilizing logistics assets, supply chain operations, and expanding modern transportation solutions within the transportation and logistics services system.
The initiative supports the Kingdom’s National Transport and Logistics Strategy and Vision 2030 objectives, which aim to enhance integration across all transport modes and logistics services.
In a post on its official X account, SAR stated that the route has the potential to connect domestic markets with neighboring countries to the east and north, adding that it “reinforces connectivity between Saudi Arabia’s seaports and northern and eastern land crossings.”
SAR added that the service also reduces shipping time by half compared to other land transport methods.
The corridor aligns with Saudi Arabia’s broader Logistics Corridors Initiative, which aims to redirect freight from Eastern Region ports to Red Sea gateways such as Jeddah Islamic Port.
source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)
____________
Spanning more than 1,700 km, the corridor can handle trains carrying over 400 containers each. File/X @SaudiTransport
In Damascus, a mural made of recycled materials has just set a new world record. Syrian artist Moaffak Makhoul and a team of six compatriots began the project in October 2013 in an attempt to revive hope in their war torn home country. The mural spans 720 square meters (7,749.98 square feet) and set the Guinness record for the largest mural of recycled materials upon its completion in January, Art Daily reports.
The mural is located in Al Mazzeh, an upscale neighborhood in Damascus. It is composed of manufactured waste: colorful scraps from cars, bicycles, cooking utensils, pipes, soft drink cans, mirrors, and ceramics. Housewives also lent a hand, bringing personal objects or pieces of domestic waste from war zones.
Syria’s ongoing civil war has killed around 146,000 people, has forced millions to flee, and forced most of those who have stayed indoors. But the mural is bringing people back out onto the street, according to the report. Makhoul told the AFP he felt the need “to give something to [his] country, to make the Syrian people be known for their love of beauty, life and nature.”
Syrian artist Moaffak Makhoul and his team pose in Damascus with Guinness World Records award for the largest recycled material mural, March 31, 2014. The mural, seen behind them, measures 7,750 feet. Photo: Louai Beshara, courtesy Agence France-Presse.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Chairman of the UAE Football Association, expressed his sincere congratulations to His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, on Manchester City’s victory in the English Football League Cup for the ninth time, following their 2-0 win over Arsenal in the final yesterday evening.
He praised the outstanding performance and distinguished results of Manchester City, noting that the club’s professional experience in the English Premier League and European competitions reflects a high level of professionalism and sports planning, and presents a bright image of English football on the global stage.
He added that this new achievement reinforces Manchester City’s position as one of the leading clubs in European and world football, stressing that the title is the result of hard work and a well-structured sporting strategy, representing a source of pride for football followers and fans.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan wished Manchester City and His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan continued success and achievements in the future, expressing his aspiration for further excellence that enhances the club’s presence at both European and global levels.
Efforts demonstrated effective coordination in crowd management, operational services
Fasting month culminated in Eid celebration
The figure reflects the Kingdom’s care for worshippers and its commitment to providing an integrated spiritual atmosphere.
The iftar distribution operations were carried out under an integrated service system overseen by the General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque.
This included organized locations and health standards to ensure smooth and safe distribution for worshippers and Umrah performers, particularly during peak periods before the Maghrib prayer, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
These efforts demonstrated effective coordination in crowd management and operational services, enhancing the quality of services at the two holy mosques in line with Saudi Vision 2030, it added.
The food was served in designated iftar areas at the mosques, in adherence with strict health standards to ensure the safety of worshippers.
The authority introduced an online service prior to the holy month through which individuals, charitable organizations and endowments could submit requests to donate iftar meals.
source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)
____________
Over 33.8 million Iftar meals served at the Two Holy Mosques during Ramadan. (SPA)
the award recognizes his pioneering project titled ‘Recycling Glass and Rubber Tire Waste to Improve the Properties of Concrete’.
Kuwaiti Engineer Abdullah Al-Gharib, a member of the Board of Directors of the Kuwait Society of Engineers, has won the Arab Youth Excellence Award in its 13th session, organized by the League of Arab States. He received the honor in the category of Research and Innovation Achievement in the ministerial and civil field.
Speaking to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), Al-Gharib said the award recognized his pioneering project titled “Recycling Glass and Rubber Tire Waste to Improve the Properties of Concrete.” He described the recognition as a tribute to the collective efforts of Arab youth in advancing research and innovation.
Al-Gharib expressed pride in this achievement, noting that the project seeks to tackle environmental waste by transforming it into value-added materials that enhance concrete quality and contribute to a more sustainable infrastructure.
He explained that the research demonstrates how industrial waste can improve the mechanical properties of concrete while reducing environmental impact—an approach that supports the development of sustainable building practices across the region.
He dedicated the award to His Highness the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness the Crown Prince, Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, and the Kuwaiti people, emphasizing that the country’s support for innovation and scientific research played a key role in this success.
Al-Gharib also thanked the Arab Youth Council for Integrated Development and the League of Arab States for their continuous encouragement of youth-led initiatives. He said the recognition serves as a motivation to continue working on projects that benefit society and advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He concluded by calling on Arab youth to invest in education, pursue scientific research, and embrace innovation as tools to overcome challenges and shape a brighter future for the Arab world.
A statue of pioneering Egyptian vernacular poet Fouad Haddad (1927–1985) was unveiled at the House of Arabic Poetry in the heart of Islamic Cairo during a poetry evening.
The event, held last week, was part of the cultural Salon of renowned poet Abdel Moati Hegazi under the title “In the Presence of Fouad Haddad.”
The statue of the father of poets, Fouad Haddad, which centred the stage, was a gift from renowned international sculptor Osama Al-Serwy to the House of Arabic Poetry, Ministry of Culture. Al-Serwy created 92 statues of Egyptian figures, including those of Said Darwish and Abbas El Akkad, among others.
“Fouad Haddad is a poet who continues to live in the collective conscience and awareness of Egyptians, shaped by his words, and the least we can do for such a figure is to create a sculpture that makes his physical features eternal, for he and his art are already immortal,” explained sculptor Osama Al-Serwy.
The evening kicked off with a short speech by architect Hamdi Sotohi, head of the Egyptian Cultural Fund, who stated the grand impact of poet Fouad Haddad on the history of Arab poetry.
This was followed by a speech of renowned poet Abdel Moati Hegazi, who thoroughly explained how Haddad’s figurative language made him a master of both vernacular and classical poetry.
Poets Mohamed Baghdady and Ragab El-Sawy also spoke, with El-Sawy reciting a poem he dedicated to Fouad Haddad that incorporated verses from Haddad’s work.
“The evening comes out of the responsibility of the House of Arab Poetry to safeguard the patriotic poetic memory,” explained Sameh Mahgoub, head of the House of Arabic Poetry.
Fouad Haddad was a pioneer of Egyptian vernacular poetry in the 20th century. Born in 1927 in Cairo, he was educated in French and studied French literature.
He later turned to Egyptian and Arab poetic traditions, especially vernacular verse, which strongly shaped his work. From then on, his language and themes reflected the vitality of Egyptian culture, making his poetry a distinct part of Egypt’s intangible cultural heritage.
He wrote over 30 books of poetry, 17 of which were published during his lifetime. One of his most popular poems is Al-Mesaharaty, which renowned Egyptian composer Sayed Mekkawi set to music. His song Al-Ard Betetkalem Araby (The Earth Speaks Arabic) became an iconic pan-Arab song for generations and was written in the aftermath of the Six-Day War in 1967.
The event was a mix of poetry recitation and songs, opening with a very special poetic speech by Fouad Haddad’s youngest son, writer Hassan Haddad. The talk explored the theme of hope as a mainstream flooding in Haddad’s poetry.
The poet of hope
“Oh tanned one, my soul, the extension of the Nile that flows 2,000 miles per second, as far as the rhyme can hold, 2,000 years pass by and the beauty of my words still holds, Fouad Haddad is the poet of hope, and his belief in hope was the main force that moved the poet within him and his clear decision to make his poetry aims to attempt a better life for the people. Throughout his life, he never deviated from hope or his belief in the people,” explained writer Hassan Haddad.
Hassan Haddad elaborated on the theme of hope in Fouad Haddad’s poetry with another verse that opens his epic poem, lamenting martyr Mohamed Ebid in his poetry collection Egypt’s Word, saying, “Planting hope and dreams has a long history and tradition; my faith in victory is based on Egypt’s belief in the strength of its people.”
Hassan Haddad further recounts how hope was a cross-cutting theme in Fouad Haddad’s poetry journey, where, when he was a political prisoner and tortured, he decided to write daily poems to support his prison mates.
“Palm trees stand tall as a symbol that continues to rise. When goodness prevails, the iron of evil will bend. No faith is ever broken, no hope is lost, hardships are accounted for, and so long you live in this world, hope is a must,”he recites.
Hassan Haddad explained that in response to the Six-Day War, Fouad Haddad wrote a poetry collection that was published in 1969 during Cairo’s millennium celebrations.
The opening lines of his book, Of the Radiance of Imagination and the Creation of Generations in the History of Cairo, begin with his famous verse: “The earth talks Arabic.”
Then Hassan Haddad recited more of Fouad Haddad’s poetry.
Once upon a time, there lived affection, joy, and felicitation,
when years were spun like a braid.
I was the gardener then—and Egypt rested on a straw mat,
like a princess of honey and song.
But days kept drifting toward the horizon,
and, if I’m honest, hope’s tether was always a little too long.
O listeners, kin of one land beneath a single sky:
If only I could hold mirrors shaped from pure white patience,
Polished with dew and that inner light,
when one greets the crack of dawn,
Hard work and perseverance need hope and inspiration.
The enchanting speech unfolded into a poetry evening where Fouad Haddad’s son, renowned Poet Amin Haddad, recited Fouad Haddad’s old-time favourites:
Salute, People of Levantine
Salute, people of Levantine, O people of God
Salute the folk of God, O seekers of God,
You read a person from his presence.
I’ve pinned my heart as witness to the drum’s rhythm,
A man is known by his eyes.
You see neither his aspirations nor his fears, neither his lows nor his highs,
Whilst the moon was plundered, with no return, I chanted for dawn.
That was never exiled, never hidden. It remained at home, and I glued it together,
bringing serenity and guiding me throughout the ages.
In the poetry realm, I was Abul Tayyib,
whoever provided protection to my home, also protected my religion.
Then, music composer Ahmed Ismail sang the song of Suez.
O Suez
An honest harbour, flags, and decorations,
The crown of the city is Abu Zayd Al-Helali.
We say, “We have arrived, how sweet is the arrival.”
Our proverb states, “Patience grants wishes.”
Ayoub is promised to Naasa, Fares to Maissa,
In a traditional Suez Henna night.
On the semsemya tunes, and ropes dance of great men,
in resistance, in persistence, and in endurance.
O Suez, bold and icon of resilience,
You were always the path, the example, and the ultimate hope.
You were more steadfast than the mountains.
O salty sea and the grand breeze,
And a land yielding beauty and charm.
Walking to the rhythm of my own drum beat.
People who came before me said in the proverbs,
The footsteps wander as they wish.
And my craft is being a Mesaharaty, who roams the Country I love,
I loved and walked like a lover on long nights.
And every inch of my country is a piece of my liver (very dear and essential) and a part of my song.
The evening ended with a segment of the famous Mesaharati, sung and performed by Bassiouni Emarra.
Mesaharati
Wake up, O sleeper, and remember God, the Eternal, Ramadan Kareem.
I am a Mesaharti anyway, beating on the drum in my hand, enhancing the rhythm,
Following the lead of the fresh scent of the morning dew and the breeze that chants.
Wake up, O sleeper, and remember God the Provider (Al-Razzaq).
Ramadan Kareem, my book of Poetry is my chant.
O Egypt, O joyous oasis,
You spoke up, and the dawn was your echo,
Even the stone chanted, when you began, history itself began.
